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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In what year did the Dalai Lama leave Tibet?

2. What did the Buddha tell the woman who had lost her child in the Dalai Lama's story?

3. What is the phrase meaning the unsatisfactory nature of pursuing pleasure?

4. The Dalai Lama teaches that pain is inevitable, but suffering is which of the following?

5. Where does Abrams write that he grew up as a child?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Part I, what kind of relationship does the Dalai Lama tell Archbishop Tutu he considers their relationship to be a bit like?

2. In Part I, what is one of the ways the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu express their affection for each other?

3. In Part II, what does Archbishop Tutu advise for people who become frustrated and encounter obstacles to finding joy?

4. In Part I, what kind of creatures does Archbishop Tutu tell Abrams humans are?

5. In Part I, what do the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu agree is necessary for the creation of something beautiful?

6. In Part II, what is the main difference between how the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu advise people to handle feelings of envy?

7. In Part I, why does Archbishop Tutu wonder how the Dalai Lama is not morose?

8. In the Introduction, what distinction does Tutu make between joy and happiness?

9. In Part I, what does Archbishop Tutu say ultimately leads to people's greatest experiences of joy?

10. In Part I, what daily routine do the Dalai Lama and the Archbishop share related to their prayer schedule?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What distinctions does the Dalai Lama emphasize to ensure that those who forgive past traumas are not harmed again by the very act of forgiveness? Write an essay explaining your answer, citing specific references to the text to help support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

What is the significance of the Tibetan Children's Village to both the Dalai Lama and to Tibetan culture in general? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

How do you think Douglas Abrams' personal relationship - and friendship - with Archbishop Desmond Tutu affected his perspective and his approach to writing The Book of Joy? Write an essay explaining your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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